sel43

Spring 2009

Final

For the second half of the semester our focus was running successful experiements and collecting data. I continued to spend time trouble shooting process controller and the aparatus. I worked with the team on the parameters we tested for experiement 1 and the plans for experiement 2. I worked with Ian on adapting the data proccessor files to process the PSS data. The detail of how we performed the data analysis can be found on the PSS data analysis page. The next major portion of the the project I worked on was the Drag Analysis. I worked with my group memebers on updating the PSS Goals. I edited the older pages including the apparatus design page, to fix the links.

For the final report I fixed the tables in the paper, worked on the results section with my group members, and wrote the conclusion. All group members took turns monitoring the system and performing data analysis. Colette and I deligated the final task for the wiki report and presentation. I worked with Kellie on understanding process controller better so she can help the PSS team next semester.

I contributed to all minutes pages and wrote the following meeting minutes:

3.13.09
3.27.09
4.3.09
04.10.09

Midterm

As team leader I have been in charge of organizing the team , communicating with Monroe and Nicole about the direction of the team, running sub-team meetings, and training new members. I created the goals and worked closely with my group members to create these goals. This semester I began working right away on getting the new design of the system up and running and jumping into process controller. I worked closely with Colette and Kellie to both train them in using process controller and writing the methods for our experiments.

We now have a fully functional system that is automated and collecting good data. I have spent a lot of time making observations and analyzing the data. The details of the experiment can be seen in the midterm wiki report I have contributed to all of the weekly minutes pages, and have written some myself.

2.20.09
2.06.09
3.06.09

Fall 2008

Mid term contribution

During the beginning of the semester our primary focus was determining which parameters we would use to find the lower limit on plate spacing. The first design parameter considered was the shear on the the water through the settling tubes. Colette and I developed a shear equationwhich showed us that shear was in fact no the limiting factor. We next looked for materials to improve upon the previous apparatus. After discussions with Professor Weber-shirk and Matt Hurst we came up with a preliminary design and continued to explore the options for sedimentation materials. Finally the tube settlers similar to Matt Hurst's setup was decided upon and we ordered the necessary pieces. I have done several meeting minutes, but I try to delegate them to both Colette and Ling so they have experience documenting on the wiki and so I can make sure we are all on the same page as far as understanding the progress af the project and where we are going. I also worked with Colette to update the goals page.

For the midterm report I focused on documenting the flocculation, floc blanket, and uniform flow in our system as well as editing the report and writing some of the minor sections of the report.

As team leader I have worked to teach Colette Kopon and Ling Cheung how to use the wiki to look up information and document our setup and methods. I am currently showing them how to use process controller and I have begun showing them the basics of mathCad. I try to delegate task so that they are challenging but also so Ling and Colette are comfortable with the task and do not feel overwhelmed since they are both new. I have spend extra time collaborating with Matt and Ian outside of our team meetings to make progress on the setup.

Final contribution

For the remainder of the I worked on improving and trouble shooting the system. This took up a lot of time, I also worked with Ling and Colette on process controller. After the system was up and running, we worked on running experiments and collecting data. Running the experiments required a lot of time spent in the lab at first, since the system was not safe enough to run on its own. I spent time working out bugs in process controller, regulating the floc blanket, coming up with unique ways to get air out of the system, and may other small issues that came up along the way. Colette and I took turns running/monitoring the system, collecting data, and documenting observations from the experiments. Towards the end of the semester I focused on collected as much quality data as possible, and planning for experiments that will be run next semester.

Although I only wrote a few of the meeting minutes, I reviewed all of them regularly. I encouraged Ling and Colette to do the meeting minutes to make sure we were all on the same page.

For the final report I updated the design parameters section, wrote the abstract, conclusion, and future work sections. I collaborated with Colette on creating a quiz for next semester's team members. I also put together the final presentation with help from my team members.

Below are the pages I create/ significantly contributed to:
Plate Settler Spacing Spring 2009 Challenges
11.21.08 PSS minutes
11.28.08 PSS Minutes
Vc Tube Settlers
PSS QUIZ

First half of semester

9.12.08 PSS minutes
9.14.08 PSS minutes
9.15.08 PSS minutes
Plate Settler Spacing Research Summer 2008
Plate Settler Spacing Meeting Minutes Fall 2008

Spring 2008

First Half of Semester

The beginning of the semester was dedicated to completing the design for the Marcala Water Treatment Plant. My contribution to the completion of the design was updating the sedimentation tank drawing, to included the presence of two additional sedimentation tanks. I wrote a program to determine size of orifices needed to compensate for the difference in flow in the effluent launders. The office design program uses the head loss and size of the orifice diameter as constraints. The final write up is under review as will eventually be sent to Fred Stottlemyer. Along with the rest of the unit process team I worked on wiking the past report of the Marcala Water Treatment Plant.

For the remainder of the semester I have worked closely with the Hydraulic Design Team and Integration to write the master program. I worked in collaboration with my unit process teammates on the skeletons for the unit process portion of the master code. I then worked on mainly hydraulic design programs, including the grit chamber and channel function code found on the registrar. I am currently working with the unit processes team on the flocculation code for the master program.

Final Semester Contributions

I have continued to work with the Hydraulic Design Team functions, completing the channel function and contributing to the launder design function. After most functions were completed I helped review the flocculation functions as well as the plant elevation design function.
Towards the end of the semester I worked on trouble shooting the integration functions such as the master program, and inputs function. I worked with the AutoCAD on inputs function and making sure the correct variables and units were being output in the design functions, and I worked on the Design team presentation.
I also represented AguaClara in the Washington D.C. to meet with the Honduran Embassy, Water Advocates, and The New Forest Project.